Dau An Phuc, vice head of the department's Traffic Management Office, told local reporters yesterday that the department was still waiting for the municipal government's final approval so that the new street could be opened as soon as possible as the traffic situation around the airport has been worsening.

Phuc said many people had criticised the project to build the 97 - metre street because of the decrease of the city's verdure.

However, he said the opening of the prolonged Pham Van Hai Street to Phan Thuc Duyen Street running to the airport was just a temporary solution for the worsening traffic jams while the contractors of the city's environment and sanitation project construct sewers under the streets near the airport.

"The new street through the park will be sealed again after the construction of the drainage systems is completed. The construction is expected to be finished by June 30;' Phuc said.

According to the proposed project, the prolonged Pham Van Hai Street will be one-way, wide enough or two lanes of vehicles.

Vehicles headed to the airport from Cong Hoa Street will turn left at the prolonged Pham Van Hai Street, then turn left again and reach the airport via Phan Thuc Duyen, Thang Long, Hau Giang or Truong Son streets.

More traffic lights will be installed to regulate traffic, according to the department.

Meanwhile, all vehicles going from the current Pham Van Hai Street will be forced to turn right at the T-junction of Ph am Van Hai and Hoang Van Thu streets.

To reduce traffic jams around the airport at rush hours, the Transport Departrnent is also widening Phan Dinh Giot Street, another way to the airport, by one metre aside the sidewalk of Hoang Van Thu Park and five meters aside Military Zone 7. This project is expected to be completed by December.

To answer the questions of local reporters about clearing away the many road works along the nearby streets of Truong Chinh; Hoang Van Thu, Phan Dang Luu, Pham Van Hai, Phan Dinh Giot and others, the Transport Department official said all of them were already cleared and road surfaces had been restored.

"I hope the way to Tan Son Nhat Airport is much easier now;' the official said.

According to the Transport Department, many streets to Tan Son Nhat Airport cause fear for travellers and tourists, especially for foreign tourists, because of increasing traffic jams.

The Saigon Times Daily - November 3, 2009